Summer is here, and aside from fishing and swimming, another great way to enjoy the warm weather with the whole family is biking. This activity is especially timely, with the opening of The Bike Rack, the new public bicycle station on East Fourth Street in Downtown Cleveland. Why not bust out your helmets, go on a tour, and rediscover Cleveland? A number of tour companies are now offering guided bike tours of the city so that you can enjoy safety in numbers.
Great Lakes Tour Co. and Bob’s Bike Tours are both second-year companies with great faith in Cleveland’s tourism future. They provide the equipment and use a group of like-minded riders to tour the city, all for a reasonable fee.
Great Lakes Tour Co. offers bike rentals and guided or non-guided trips in Cleveland, its neighborhoods and the Cuyahoga Valley (including partial trips on the scenic railroad.) Most tours are $40 (discounts are sometimes available,) and this fee includes a bike, helmet and water bottle.
Bob’s Bike Tours also offers guided trips through Downtown Cleveland, and Ohio City and Tremont. They feature an annual charity ride to the Cleveland Indians’ Opening Day, and regular tours that cost $29.10, which includes tax, a bike, helmet and water.
Lastly, Critical Mass offers free group rides for bike rights and safety awareness, usually to food-and-drink destinations. You must bring your own bike and gear. In Cleveland, they ride every last Friday of the month, while in Lakewood; they converge every second Sunday of the month.
